PLATO spacecraft completed with sunshield and solar panels, ready for final tests

European Space Agency/PLATO

After arriving at ESA's test centre in the Netherlands, PLATO had its combined sunshield and solar panel module fitted, completing the spacecraft. The shield keeps the 26 cameras in shadow while the panels power the craft, and the finished telescope moved on to its final environmental tests.

• Sunshield and solar array module mounted on 9 September 2025 at ESTEC.
• Completes the build of the 26-camera telescope.
• Next: vibration, acoustic, thermal-vacuum and electromagnetic tests.